The continuing resolution to reopen the federal government for three weeks and end the partial government shutdown — that has gone down as the longest in history – was signed by President Donald Trump Friday night. Trump had announced earlier in the day that a deal had been reached to end the shutdown.
Speaking from the Rose Garden Friday afternoon, the president said he will ensure all affected federal workers receive their backpay very quickly or as soon as possible. The president thanked federal workers and their families for the “extraordinary devotion” they have shown “in the face of this recent hardship.” The bill passed on Friday includes provisions regarding retroactive pay and reimbursement, The White House said.
As part of the deal with congressional leaders, a bipartisan committee of House and Senate lawmakers was being formed to consider border spending as part of the legislative process in the weeks ahead. The bill contains no new money for the wall but ends the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
“Over the next 21 days, I expect that both Democrats and Republicans will operate in good faith,” Trump said in his speech. “This is an opportunity for all parties to work together for the benefit of our whole beautiful, wonderful nation.”
However, Trump did not back away from his demand for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
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“We really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or steel barrier, if we don’t get a fair deal from Congress the government will either shut down on Feb. 15 again,” Trump said in concluding his afternoon speech. “Or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the constitution of the United States to address this emergency.”
After the bill passed both the Senate and the House, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on Twitter that in 21 days, Trump is moving forward with building the wall with or without the Democrats.
“This was in no way a concession,” Trump said in a tweet late Friday, fending off critics who wanted him to keep fighting. “It was taking care of millions of people who were getting badly hurt by the Shutdown with the understanding that in 21 days, if no deal is done, it’s off to the races!”
Trump’s announcement comes on the same day that delays were reported at some of the busiest airports in the northeast United States due to the shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly halted flights into New York City’s LaGuardia Airport Friday, which affected air travel across the country. The airport warned of “major delays” because of staffing shortages at air traffic control centers along the East Coast. The FAA and the TSA were both affected by the lapse in government funding.
The partial government shutdown, that began before Christmas, entered its second month as President Trump refused to support a spending bill that did not include funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. On Thursday, two measures in the Senate that would have ended the shutdown — one brought forward by Republicans and the second proposed by Democrats — both failed to pass. Approximately 800,000 federal workers are either furloughed due to the shutdown or have to work without pay.
The Republican bill failed 50-47 while the bill brought forward by the Democrats failed 52-44, receiving two more votes than the GOP measure.
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll released Friday shows that Trump’s disapproval rating is 58 percent and a majority of Americans hold the president and Republicans responsible for the shutdown.
Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.
This report is being updated.
Photo: President Donald Trump speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House, Friday, Jan 25, 2019, in Washington. Photo by Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press
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